Lib Dems: Govt incompetence staggering

Taxpayers are paying the price of the government's "staggering incompetence" on the 2003 contract for GPs, the Liberal Democrats say.

Health spokesperson Norman Lamb was commenting as a National Audit Office (NAO) report showed the Department of Health had underestimated the cost of the contracts by £1.76 billion.

"It's clear that ministers had no realistic idea of the likely cost to the taxpayer or impact on patient care," Mr Lamb said.

He called on the government to cooperate with doctors rather than pick battles with them to rectify its "failures".

"Ministers must act urgently on this and other independent reviews to reform the contract, so that improving patient services becomes a priority," he urged.